Tech Committee Meeting, April 14, 2012, 9 am - 12 pm

Laury Scandling, Carin Smolin, Julie Leary, Renee Drummond, Chris Murray, Tom Milliron, Carolyn Dukes, Dave Ringle, Lynette McNutt, Cathy Brown, Brita Steinberger

Review 5 pt plan developed last meeting:
  1. Advocate and secure funding
  2. Building and maintaining robust infrastructure
  3. Deliver ongoing individualized pd
  4. Achieve efficiencies, financial savings through paperless goals
  5. Open the tech environment

Agenda:
  • Funding update
  • Google is coming
  • Communications plan
  • Group work
  • Report out

Laury gave funding update…still request in capital budget and district operating budget refresh cycle…stay tuned for final legislature news

Chris gave update on tech review of the district---the infrastructure that is being analyzed and learning what system needs are etc.; that is a priority for our district to build and improve the capacity
  • Needs to know what is not working that is important to do your job or student’s can engage or do their work
  • Need to consider having a key person in each building as contact to the IT department about problems encountered so IT is aware and can address those problems
  • Harborview site council survey of what technology is working and what is specifically needed for PD by staff—report is coming; identified that not all teachers know what they need for PD ;
    • Where to save student work: Students saving work onto server is not consistent and need clarification across the board-we use apple standard; everything is put on server…save on desktop and then put on server
    • Staff survey needed and how to prioritize next needs

Google communications plan:
  • Take email services off old servers (communigate program) and move toward Google; industry standard is Microsoft but we can’t afford it so other districts are also using Google (Google apps for education is 100% free).
    • Google will archive email for small fee which is required by state law.
    • Collaborate on documents, district calendar…
    • Roll out to staff and students; students will not get email unless requested
    • PD needs: Google apps and using ipads
    • Plan to do this transition in small groups, schools, individualized- one to one
    • FAQs, flyer, To Do for summer re: email system
    • Important to have clear directive; apple mail going away

From March-last meeting: Group work within 8 components framework:
  1. Shared vision and leadership – Richard, John, Tom
  2. Professional development – Julie, Janna, Renee
  3. Infrastructure-Tech planning – Laury, Chris, Carin, John
  4. Culture
  5. Community Partnerships
  6. Funding – Laury
  7. Curriculum and implementation –Brita, Kathy, Dave, Carrolyn


Work groups today:
  • Communications planning on Google transition: Carin, Brita, Chris
  • Prioritization $ and needs: framework for needs assessment
  • Near term/long term PD: Julie, Cathy, Lynette, Carolyn
    • Apple: Thursday 5/3…
    • Next year…
    • Discussion about ipad support and server needs
    • Tech mentors at each site
    • ipad users group: let’s convene it and open to anyone
Next ipad group session is next week, April 21: Laury will send out info
  • include students
  • Curriculum: iSafe, netkidz

Communications Plan Discussion: Brita, Laury, Carin
  • Need FAQ in everybody’s box, flyers and online district website, wiki, and emailed
  • Staff meetings
  • District wide email weekly…its coming, here’s what it means to you, how it will work
  • Weekly tech tips and archived on district website/portal
  • Managing your email
  • Google form survey of each user as implementing one to one-to identify specific pd needs, capacity/competence in using technology, specific questions to help shape pd and usage
  • Training to use-Tech wiki space
  • Archive and make accessible on wiki or ? various training vignettes on technology
  • Include in District email-Connections and You’ve Got Mail regularly
  • Tiered roll out: accessing and implementing, using, sharing technology with the right people in each building who will be tech mentors/champions
  • How well trained are IT staff in communications?
  • How well trained are staff, admin council
  • Video tv delivered tech use and tips


Communications Workgroup recommendations:
  • Ongoing within district
  • Regular updates/information to public/parents about use of technology and successes
  • Using email
  • Superintendent’s communications and district communications
  • Presenting to admin council/school board
  • FAQ
  • Hosting tech info and tips on wiki or other site and video clips, how to
  • Follow up
  • Weekly tech tips and resources/best apps
  • Innovative tech grant sharing and access to grant funds
  • Clarity/update of policies and regs
  • New district form for parent/student use of technology


Funding workgroup recommendations:
  • First and foremost Infrastructure improved/fixed to support every site
  • Compatible operating systems/platforms across district
  • Google docs district wide and then compatible word/excel versions etc


Professional Development workgroup recommendations:
  • Involve ASDN for delivery of tech classes
  • Google and ipad, using wikispaces training
  • Some people working this summer in training and ready for school year
  • How to provide incentive and support to teacher mentors to others in the building
  • Fragmented use of technology, software programs around district that need to share- teachers need to learn and be trained on those systems at the same time as new roll out
  • Create district wide programs
  • Provide site based programs that may be useful to adopt by other sites
  • How will training be provided?
  • How to use colleagues to provide training, combo of inservice and in building training
  • What tech training do we need: podcasts, smartboards, use of handhelds, computers, internet safety curriculum, different elementary and secondary pd dates in fall
  • Top 10 social media competencies training for our teachers: create and follow PLP for staying abreast of social media and technology
  • Resource list of colleagues with expertise specific to technology needs
  • Want something all year and not just one shot technology trg
  • Use of assistive technology
  • District-wide technology conference
  • How can we deliver info school-wide
  • Dedicated tech coaches to share with others
  • Look at Edumodo
  • UAS and ASDN short tech training for students and teachers
  • Tech expo and include community
  • Champions at each site do not have to be “teachers” but could be classified staff too
  • Paras don’t necessarily have email or access to technology;
don’t need to have just one tech mentor to ac